Apparatus for smelting and converting ores.



No. 812,186. PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906.

A. M. DAY.

APPARATUS FOR SMELTING AND CONVERTING ORES.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.29,1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906 AIM. DAY. APPARATUS FOR SMELTING AND CONVERTING ORES.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.29,1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Q Q Q y M m 7% 10* A LQ W M O :W m Ti 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906.

A. M. D'AY.

APPLICATION FILED 00wx 29, 1904.

lllll ll ll lllw I L A APPARATUS PORSMELTING AND CONVERTING ORES.

PATENTED PEB. 13, 1906.

A. M. DAY. APPARATUS FOR SMELTING AND CONVERTING ORE'S.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.29,1904.

4 SHEETS-BHEET.4.

nally-recessedsleeve n. A pipe 0, having an 4 e1bow,.is attached at one end to and communicates with said sleeve and isconnected at the other end by a packed swivel-joint p with 5 the main air-blast or supply-pipe g. The sleeve 7b is formed at the ends with stufiingboxes and provided with glands and is held in place upon the extension m by the flanged head of said extension and an opposing shoulder IO thereon. The internal annular recess or passage in the sleeve communicates with the interior ofthe trunnion extension through lateral openings therein, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

- Some of the twyers 7c arev connected by pipe-sections r, passing through the wind-box c, ma1nblast=passage Z, and trunnion c, with a bridge-piece extending across the outer end of said trunnion, as shown in Fig. 6., In a corresponding bridge-piece'across the inner end of the sleeve n are secured flexible hose or pipe sections 8 in position to register with the ends of the pipe-sections 1", air-tight joints being made between the meeting ends of said sections when the parts are assembled by '25 means of packing-rings inserted in one of the bridge-pieces around the ends of the pipe or hose sections secured therein, as shown in Fig. 6. An air-tight joint is also made between the trunnion and trunnion extension by a rubber gasket. or packing-ring inserted in an annular recess between said parts, which are drawn and held together by bolts passing through notched ears or lugs formed on opposite sides of said parts. 5 The apparatus comprises a number of closed reservoirs or receptacles 25, one only of which is shown. Each of these receptaclesis connected at the top with a compressed-airsupply pipe u by a branch pipe containing a 0 valve, and at the bottom, Which is preferably funnel-shaped, with a corresponding number of auxiliary air-blast or compressed-air-supply pipes v by branches provided with valves or gates w. The pipes 12 are connected at one end with the com ressed-air supply and at the other end by the flexible hose-sections s,

passing through stufiing-boxes in the head of the trunnion extension m, with the pipe-sections 1". and certain of the twyers 1: with which said pipe-sections communicate.

- The apparatus hereinbefore described operates as follows: Tubular extensions :1: being inserted in the several twyers 70, as shown in Fig. 1, and the receptacles i being supplied one with fuel, such as powdered coal or coke or oil,- another with a suitable flux, such as powdered limestone orv iron ore, and another with powdered silica, the vessel e is filled to the top of thetwyer extensions 93 with the ore to be treated such, for example, as crude copper-sulfid ore. The charge is then dried suiliciently to prevent explosions by kindling a wood or coal the on top of it or by otherwise applying heat thereto. Compressed air 6 5 is turned on from the main supply-pipe g -s12,1se

through the mainblast-passage Z, wind-'box c, and twyers 7c communicating therewith, and the vessel (1 is tilted into a convenient position to receive molten matte or other suitable substance containing suificient heat to start the smelting operation. The vessel a is now turned back into an upright position, the molten matte or other substance (lowing over and covering the top of the charge; The air i supplied through the twyers under sufficient pressure to prevent the molten matte from flowing into them coming in contact therewith produces intense heat at that point, and the smelting operation begins at the top of the charge, progressmggradually downward uritil the entire charge has been fused. As the operation proceeds the smelting vessel is turned down and the molten sla accumulating at the surface is drawn off om time to time through the nozzle 1) in order to avoid an unnecessary increase of pressure to force the air through the slag, and, on the other hand, a diminution of the volume of air passing through the matte and consequent abatement of the smelting operation. As the melting zone or level progresses downward the tubes as are melted off, so that the air is delivered to the top of the charge of ore below the molten covering. The ore is mixed, if possible, so as to produce a self-fluxing charge; but when this is impracticable the flux required to properly fuse the charge is supplied from one of the receptacles t by opening one or more of the valves or gatesw below said receptacle, thereby admitting the powdered flux into one or more of the auxiliary blast-pipes o, from which it is carried through the connections hereinbefore described to one or more of the twyers and delivered at the top of the charge below the molten covering, where the greatest heat is produced and maintained. The oxidation of the sulfur and iron or other combustible substances ordinarily contained in the ore pro.- duces sufficient heat to smelt the ore, the operation having been started by the covering of molten matte or other substance. In case, however, the ore contains insufficient fuel to maintain the required degree of heat powdered coal or coke, or even oil,is supplied as required from one of the receptacles 25, this additional fuel-supply being regulated by the adjustment of the valve or valves to and delivered by the twyer extensions to the charge where the operation of fusion is most active. To keep the twyers open, a small quantity of powdered silica is supplied from one of the place throughout the entire molten portion of amuse 1 means the ordinary hem open by thrusting "out time to time is disllith 'n and described. oi sev- .tinct connections bei'ziilf-lLS f and. certain of material from either one of be supplied simultaneernl connections to l, or one kind of nn'ttcrizil al through two oi said conned oiherlcind is supplied from un- 14 he tin-ought third connection,

'ol i ter" M uel dl'ux, and sil- .nulttin eo usly from th e ne cminection being used or one hind of material. the iwver tensions n )in the or ages from the Lil this iverod to t idepondei end in tin in :ind

icing delivli) ilu botbe done in 'ti smelting; operation, :nis been completed, .lklllll' sin-utters benigsupno (nor v or the matte i'rom the vessel in which en snicltcd to another i'lilS for converting it uppu 1 ost". in i'io bonversiou ol' the in; a copper Yin iivycrs urr kept open tit to: 1:1 smelling ru-r t. or. b introus oreihromfh ers, and the silica or serves the additional ring with the iron contained thereby liberating the cop ho? herein described oi intro separate and distinct from the main air-blast into the charge high grade matte which would otherwise have to be mixed with low.

verters, and thereby dispenses with the silicious linings which are commonly employed and are at source of trouble, expense, and danger, since they are rupidly consumed and have to be frequently renewed, and in case the molten charge breaks through the lining it will immediately melt and destroy the sheet-metal shell of the smelter or converter.

\Vith the zippsratus hercinbefore described crude loW-grmle ores, which could not otherwise be profitably treated in lo :olitics Where fuel and water are source or deur, can be successfully sineltod sud coi'iverted, since the sulfur or other 'l'uel contained in such ores utilized and the preliminary operation of cmicentrailing the ores, which requires a large volume of Wtltil', is rendered unneccsssry by my apparatus.

Filth the detachable connection shown in the drawings between the trunnion r and its -Iil'-Fllrl )il m and the associated couplings between the sections 7'- und .9 of the auxiliary blest-pipes the smelting vessel or convcrterbowl 0. can be readily removed and replaced or one substituted for another by simply removing and replacing the two bolts connecting said trunnion and its extension and tight ening the nuts on said bolts whcnthe ports are connected to make air-tightjoints between them. The uncoupling and coupling of the blast connections with a vessel a are further facilitated by'the joint 11, which permits the trunnion extension m, with all its pcri'nsnent pipe connections, to be swung from and toward said vessel.

in plants supplied with at number of smelters or converters the main blust-pipc (1 has a corresponding number of branches each provided with "tllft? for cutting oil the airblast from the associated smelter or converter independiuitly of the others.

Various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts of the appsrzitus may be mode within the principle and intended scope ol the invention.

1. ln uppurutus for smelting and convert ing ores, the conibimition of :1 smelting vessel having it \vindboX and a number ol tnyt-rs lending tlnrol'rom into the lower part of the smelting-chumbeiy mid fusible tvvyer extensions leading upwerdlyfroin the twyefs, substantially as described.

2. In apparatus for smelting and convertores the combination of a smelting vessel provided with e. wind-box having an air-blast connection and with a number oi twyers leading from the wind-box into the smelting chamber, fusible twyer extensions leadinr upwardly from the twyers, a separate coinpressed-air-supply connection with one of the twyers, and a closed receptacle for holding fluent material connected at the top with a source of compressed air and at the bottom. with the airsupply connection lerulinp to one of the twyers, substantially described.

3. In apparatus for smelting and converting or'es the combination of a smelting vessel provided with a wind-box having an aipblast connection and with a number of twyers leading from said wind-box into the smeltingchamber, fusible twyer extensions leading upwardly from the twyers, a separate conipressed-air-supply connection with one of the twyers, and a closed receptacle for holding fluent material, having a valve-controlled connection with the air-supply connection leading to one of the twyers, substantially as as described.

l. In apparatus for smelting and converting ores, a smelting vessel having an air-blast connection at the bottom and fusible twyer extensions leading upwardly into said vessel from the lower part thereof, substantially as described.

5. In apparatus for smelting and convertlng ores, the combination 01' a smelting vessel having an air-blast connection at the bottom and fusible twyer-tulms extending upwardly therefrom, substantially as described.

6. In apparatus lor smelting and converting ores, the combination of a smelting vessel provided with twyers, a main air-supply connected with some of the twyers, and a closed receptacle for holding fluent material connected at the top with a compressed-air supply and at the bottom with. an auxiliary pipe or passage leading from the air-suppl y to one of said twyers, substantially as described.

7. In apparatus for smelting and converting ores, the combination of a smeltimg vessel provided with twyers and mounted on trunnions, one 0 which is hollow and has a detachable tubular extension connected with the twyers and formed with a lateral opening, and an air blast or supply pipe provided with a sleeve in which the trunnion extension is adapted to turn and with which it forms an annular passage in communication with the lateral opening" in said extension and with said air blast or supply pipe, substantially as described.

8. In apparatus for smelting and converting ores, the combination of a smelting vessel provided with twyers and mounted on trunnions one of which is hollow and has a detachable tubular extension connected with the twyers and termed with a lateral opening, an an blast or supply pipe and a branch pipe provided with a sleeve in which said trunmon extension is adapted to turn and lwith which it communicates through said l lateral opening, said branch pipe,having a l swivel connection with the main blast-pipe whereby said trunnion extension when detached may be swung away from the associated trunnion, substantially as described.

9. In apparatus for smelting and converting ores, the combination of a smelting vessel provided with twyers and mounted on trunnions one of which has a detachable extension forming therewith an air-supply connection to the twyers, an air blast or supply pipe provided with a sleeve in which said trunnion extension is adapted to turn and througl'i which it communicates with said pipe, an auxiliary air-blast pipe connected with a twyer and running through the main air-blast passage to said trunnion extension, and a flexible extension of said auxiliary ipe connected therewith by a joint whic is adapted to be made and unmade by the coupling and uncoupling; of the trunnion extension, substantially as described.

I 10. In apparatus l'or smelting and converting ores the combination of a smelting vessel provided with twyers, a main air blast or supply pipe connected with some of said twyers, a number of closed receptacles or reservoirs for holding fluent material, each connected at the top with a source vot compressed air and having at the bottom a valvecontrolled connection with an auxiliary blast pipe leading from the source of compressed air to one of said twyers, substantially as described.

11. In apparatus for smelting and convert ing ores the combination of a smelting vessel provided with twyers, a main air-supply pipe connected with some of the twyers, a number of closed receptacles for holding fluent material connected at the top with a source of compressed air and each having at the bottom valvecontro'lled connections with a like number of auxiliary blast-pipes each leading: to a twyer and connected with the source of compressed air, substantially as described. i

1.2. In apparatus for smelting and converting ores the combination of a smelting vessel provided with twyers and mounted on truns nions, one of which has a detachable exten sion forming therewith an air-supply conply pipe provided with an internally-recessed sleeve in which said trunnion extension is adapted to turn and through which it communicates with said pipe, a number of closed nectcd at the top with a source oi compressed air and having at the bottom valve-controlled connections with auxiliary blast-pipes which comn'iunicate with the compressed-air supply and have llexible connections with said trunnion extension, and pipes leading therefrom through the associated trunnion receptacles for holding fluent material con-' nection to the twyers, a compressedair-suping ores the combination or" e, smelting vessel provided with twyei's and mounted on trun nions, one of which is hollow and is oonnec ted with some of the tw yei's and with en eir-hli-ist supply, and an auxiliary air-blast pipe leading through said l'iollow trunnion to one of the buyers, substantially as described 14. In apparatus for smelting and converting ores the combination of s smelting vessel provided with twyers and mounted on trunmons. one of which is hollow and has it cletachable tubular extension forming an air supply connection for some of the twyers, a main air-blsst pi e connected with said eX- tension, an euxi iary passage leading from said hollow trunnion to one of the twyers and an auxiliary air-blast pipe leading into said extension and adapted to make a tight joint with the auxiliary passage in the trunnion when said extension is coupled thereto, substen tially as described. 7

In witness whereof I hereto afiix my signature in p'resence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR MILTON DAY. Witnesses: V

ERNEST C. TRASK, .VM. V TALBoTT. 

